Membership Works

Exciting Accomplishments: Illinois Collaboration on Youth (ICOY)
In 2010, ICOY:

Advocated for payments to ICOY member agencies with the Governor’s Office, the Secretary of Human Services, and the Director of Children and Family Services
Communicated in real time to ICOY members with breaking news about the budget, legislation, and other important issues affecting children, youth, and families.
Influenced youth service policy in Illinois, by participating in several state-level policy workgroups including: Youth Services Consolidation Advisory Group, the Child Welfare Advisory Council, the Community Services Advisory Group, CCBYS GLBTQ Planning Group, the DCFS-DJJ Merger Workgroup, the Differential Response Steering Committee, and the DJJ Aftercare Planning Group
Testified before the House and Senate Appropriations committees about the impact of budget cuts on youth services and the agencies that provide them
Monitored and supported legislation that will improve the lives of children, youth, and families
Co-led an effort with the Illinois Partners for Human Services to survey human service providers in Illinois about the impact of budget cuts and delayed payments on agencies and services
Hosted quarterly Policy Forums, featuring speakers such as the Governor’s Chief of Staff and the Secretary of the Department of Human Services
Collaborated with other advocacy organizations and coalitions, such as the Act Now! Coalition, the African-American Family Commission, the Chicago Coalition for the Homeless, the Child Care Association of Illinois, the City of Chicago Task Force on Homeless Youth, Illinois Partners for Human Service, the Latino Family Commission, and the Responsible Budget Coalition

BENEFITS OF MEMBERSHIP

Becoming a New Member or Renewing gives you:

Timely information about state-level youth service policy & budget
Notification of funding opportunities
Links to breaking news
Testimony on youth issues before the General Assembly
Representation on state-level committees & work groups
Quarterly ICOY Policy Forums & other meetings with key policy makers & state administrators
State office alerts about pending legislation
Collective advocacy with government officials & the media
Information about conferences, webinars & trainings
Links to research & reports
Individual consultation with ICOY staff
Connections to other advocacy organizations

ICOY has two types of memberships. Organizational members include organizations that provide direct service to youth. Supporting Partners are individuals and nonprofit organizations that support and advocate for policies and programs that directly benefit children, youth, and their families but do not provide direct service.

For membership inquiries, please contact Laura Fillenwarth, ICOY’s Membership and Marketing Coordinator at LFillenwarth@youthnetworkcouncil.org or 312-949-5644.